S/V Nereida and her owner, British yachtswoman Jeanne Socrates, are round-the-world champions. In 2013, Jeanne became the first and only woman to sail solo, nonstop around the world from North America as well as the oldest woman to solo-circumnavigate the world, just 33 days shy of her 71st birthday.

Prior to embarking on her eight-and-a-half-month global journey, Jeanne applied Propspeed foul-release coating to the propeller and shaft of her Najad 380’s autoprop as well as a fresh coat of antifoul to the hull.

An experienced seawoman who began sailing with her late husband, George, in 1990, Jeanne has been using Propspeed for many years and is greatly pleased with its performance, noting that it lasts well when carefully applied. “So many people have been impressed with my Propspeed coating and its usefulness in keeping the prop clean while on my travels,” she says. Particularly useful, given that achieving the world record required that she not touch land nor receive help of any kind while under way.

Jeanne successfully completed her nonstop, single-handed, unassisted voyage at 2:26 am on Monday, July 8, 2013, when she passed Ogden Point, the entrance of Victoria Harbour, Canada, exactly 259 days after leaving Victoria in October 2012. The photos below show Nereida’s underside immediately after her journey, with the coating on the prop and shaft still looking spotless in contrast to the heavily fouled hull!

Without Propspeed, hard shell growth takes hold, as seen here on Nereida’s hull.

“So many people have been impressed with my Propspeed coating and its usefulness in keeping the prop clean while on my travels.”

Jeanne Socrates

Oldest woman to solo-circumnavigate the world

Still growth-free after 8.5 months at sea: a clean prop and shaft, thanks to Propspeed!

“It felt rather odd to be back, kind of schizophrenic in a way, because I’d been on the boat for eight and a half months,” she says. “But because I was talking to people all the time—I was on the radio every day, I was e-mailing, I was blogging every day—I knew that lots of people were with me, so it felt like I was … not isolated.”

We like to think that Propspeed provided an added measure of comfort and support, also being with Jeanne all the way.

What size Propspeed kit do I need?

The right kit for your needs will depend on the size of the area you’re coating. Our three kit sizes correspond to the following coverage areas:200ml: up to 0.4m2 or4.3ft2500ml: up to 1m2 or 10.75ft21 liter: up to 2m2 or 21.5ft2

How does Propspeed work?

Propspeed is a foul release coating, not an anti-foul, so it doesn’t harm marine life. The top coat on the Propspeed system is an ultra-slick surface that marine growth can’t grip. Propspeed’s effectiveness does depend on movement of your boat - the more you use it, the better Propspeed performs. Propspeed sets itself apart from the competition with the exceptionally strong chemical and physical bond between the metal substrate, the primer and the top coat - this ensures that the Propspeed coating actually stays on your running gear.

Is Propspeed environmentally friendly?

Yes. Propspeed contains no copper, tin or any other toxic substances harmful to marine life.

How long does Propspeed last?

Propspeed will last at least a year, but many customers report another one or even two years service life. This depends on what sort of marine environment your boat is moored in, the water temperature, and how often you use it.

Will Propspeed lose its effectiveness if my boat is out on the water for a period of time?

No, provided the only maintenance given to the parts with Propspeed applied is a light wiping with a non-abrasive cloth, the boat can be hauled and launched multiple times, or left out for long periods without affecting the performance of Propspeed. If you are having the bottom of the boat high pressure washed ensure that any Propspeed coated parts are covered to prevent damage.

Can Propspeed protect against Zebra mussels and other freshwater growth?

Propspeed can be used successfully in fresh or salt water. As it’s a foul release, not a biocide or anti-foul, Propspeed relies on a slick surface - it doesn’t matter what sort of marine growth you have, it won’t be able to get a grip.

Can I apply Propspeed myself?

For best results we recommend Propspeed is applied by a trained applicator. See our applicator finder, or or your haul-out facility may already have an arrangement with an applicator.

What is the shelf life of Propspeed

All Propspeed kits have a shelf life of 3 years from date of manufacture.
The date of manufacture should be clearly labelled on your kit and components

What parts on the bottom of the boat can be coated with Propspeed?

Propspeed can be applied to any metal part below the waterline, including propellers, shafts, struts, rudders, trim tabs and through hull fittings. You can also use the clear coat directly on plastic bow-thrusters and underwater lights.

Is Propspeed expensive?

Propspeed may cost more to buy than conventional anti-fouling paints, but the feedback we get constantly from boat-owners is that it pays for itself. By keeping the running gear free of marine growth, not only does it reduce the time spent cleaning at next haul-out, but it reduces your running costs by increasing your speed and reducing your fuel consumption

What sort of maintenance does Propspeed need?

None. The foul release formulation is self-cleaning as soon as the propeller starts up. If required, a light wipe with a non-abrasive cloth will remove any marine growth. When hauling out, ensure the Propspeed is wiped down with a non-abrasive cloth before any marine growth on the surface can dry. Water-blasting, scraping and other abrasive cleaning will damage the Propspeed and eliminate its effectiveness.

Will Propspeed affect the life of my sacrificial anodes?

The application of Propspeed greatly reduces the wetted metal surface and the positive outcome is that our customers are seeing an increase of vessel speed with less RPMs, fuel savings and, the protection from stray current damage resulting in longer sacrificial anode life.
It has been observed by our customers that by using Propspeed on their running gear and propellers they have seen a dramatic reduction in corrosion to their underwater metals and that their sacrificial anodes are lasting longer..

How long after application of Propspeed until I can launch my boat?

A minimum of eight hours drying time is required after the final coat. This is based on an average air temperature of 15 deg C, or 59 deg F. If the air temperature is colder than this, a minimum of 24 hour curing time is recommended.

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